[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35657-35658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14587]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA626


Marine Mammals; File Nos. 16163, 16160, and 15569

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits have been issued to the 
Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC, Dr. M. Bradley Hanson, 
Principal Investigator) [File No. 16163], 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, 
Seattle, WA 98112-2097; The Whale Museum (Jenny Atkinson, Responsible 
Party) [File No. 16160], P.O. Box 945, Friday Harbor, WA 98250; and The 
Center for Whale Research (CWR; Kenneth C. Balcomb III, Responsible 
Party) [File No. 15569], P.O. Box 1577, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 to 
conduct research on marine mammals.

ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review 
upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The following Analysts at (301) 427-
8401: Joselyd Garcia-Reyes [for File No. 16160]; Laura Morse [for File 
No. 16163]; and Jennifer Skidmore [for File No. 15569].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 3, 2011, notice was published in 
the Federal Register (76 FR 213) that a request for permits to conduct 
research on marine mammals had been submitted by the above-named 
applicants. The requested permits have been issued under the authority 
of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine 
mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing 
the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened 
species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
    File No. 16163: Authorizes take of forty-two species of marine 
mammals in all U.S. and international waters in the

[[Page 35658]]

Pacific Ocean, including waters of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, 
California, and Hawaii. Harassment of all species of cetaceans will 
occur through vessel approach for sighting surveys, photographic 
identification, behavioral research, opportunistic sampling (breath, 
sloughed skin, fecal material, and prey remains), acoustic imaging with 
echosounders, and aerial surveys. Twenty seven cetacean species and 
unidentified mesoplodon species will be biopsied, dart, and/or suction-
cup tagged. Ultrasound sampling will be directed at killer whales 
including the Southern Resident stock. Active acoustic playback studies 
will be directed at Southern Resident killer whales. Import and export 
of marine mammal prey specimens, skin and blubber, sloughed skin, fecal 
and breath samples obtained is authorized. The permit is valid until 
June 6, 2017.
    File No. 16160: Authorizes take of eight species of cetaceans in 
the inland waters of Washington State. Harassment of all species will 
occur through close vessel approach for photo-identification, 
behavioral observation, and monitoring. The permit is valid until June 
6, 2017.
    File No. 15569: Authorizes take of twenty-two species of marine 
mammals in the coastal eastern North Pacific from the southern boundary 
of California to Alaskan waters east of Kodiak Island, including all 
territorial waters up to 200 nautical miles offshore. Harassment of all 
species of cetaceans will occur through vessel approach for 
photographic identification, behavioral research, opportunistic 
sampling (fecal material and prey remains), remote measuring (aerial 
and laser techniques), and passive acoustic recording. The permit is 
valid until June 6, 2017.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared analyzing the effects 
of the permitted activities on the human environment in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
Based on the analyses in the EA, NMFS determined that issuance of the 
permits will not significantly impact the quality of the human 
environment and that preparation of an environmental impact statement 
was not required. That determination is documented in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), signed on June 4, 2012.
    As required by the ESA, issuance of these permits was based on a 
finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good faith; (2) will 
not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) are 
consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the 
ESA.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:

Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 
(301) 427-8401; fax (301) 427-2521;
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone (907) 
586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249;
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, Honolulu, 
HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 973-2935; fax (808) 973-2941.

    Dated: June 8, 2012.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14587 Filed 6-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P